Microsoft betas Vista-bound WinFS file system

Microsoft has unleashed a beta version of its Vista-bound WinFS file system for Windows XP. Originally highlighted as a key part of Vista, WinFS was dropped from the launch version of Vista a year ago, but has now reappeared ahead of expectations, albeit in beta, on Microsoft's MSDN developer network. It's still not due as an official part of Vista until next year, however. ...more

Interview: HP-Compaq merger opens door for Dell?

Following Dell's launch of its ultra-small desktop OptiPlex SX260, we caught up with Pierre Vigna, Dell's Director of Desktops EMEA. Martin Hingley, VP of IDC's European Systems Group has said things weren't going to improve for the industry in 2003. What is Dell's view of the immediate future? Pierre Vigna: The feeling is that we do not see a massive pick up right now. ...more

BT launches faster dial-up

BT has launched the faster dial-up Internet service that it has been trialling for some months. BT Midband provides a 128k connection, more than twice the speed of standard 56k dial-up, but still someway short of the maximum 512k speed of most ADSL broadband services. Advantages over a 56k connection, other than speed, include the ability to make a phone call whilst online - although the speed will drop to 64k - and a faster connection speed - about four seconds compared to 30 seconds. ...more

UK games chart: Cricket gets comfortable at the crease

August is always a quiet month for games and with no new entries in this week's ELSPA UK games chart we watch the existing pack shuffle - Ashes interest fuels Brian Lara's return to the top of the charts with Brian Lara International Cricket 2005 Behind Codemaster's cricket game for the PC, PS2 and Xbox, Activision's multi-format movie spin-offs line up, with Madagascar at two and Fantastic 4 at number three. Also benefiting from the efforts of Vaughn and his boys is Cricket 2005, EA's leather and willow game for the PC, PS2 and Xbox. Indeed, Xplosiv's International Cricket Captain: Ashes 05 also makes it to the top of the chart for budget PC games. ...more

Sony stops selling lipstick and French food

Sony is to sell off some of its more unlikely assets in order to generate cash for its core consumer electronics businesses. Having already announced the closure of its QRIO and AIBO robot programme and Qualia, its high-end electronics experiment, Reuters reports that the Japanese firm will now dispose of Sony Plaza, an import-export business, B&C cosmetics, the French restaurant chain Maxim and a mail order business, all of which were bought by former CEO Akio Morita. Sony declined to comment, but according to Reuters' source it plans to sell more than 50 per cent of the four businesses. ...more